22Hornet a 200mtr round ?

[1armoured]

Managed to get some 200mtr shooting in last week.
(I'm normally a bit lazy to walk out that far to pitch my targets. )
I've shot some tight groups with my Savage Model 40 before,
but this time had the newer Anschutz 1730, which is a bit lighter than the light varmint Savage.
Shot Lee crimped 40gr Sierra Blitzkings over 13gr Lil'Gun and FC SP primers and RP brass, but wasn't too happy with some of the Chrony readings.
The odd slower load, giving quite a wide spread.
I seem to do better with the Noslers.
The top group showed promise, shame with the one that went high and wide, otherwise it might have been a 'keeper' !
Bottom group also with one high, wide and top of it's back !
But still 'minute of gopher'.
(I guess the 'varmints' wouldn't notice though)
cheers,
SS

[Catfish]

I believe that the large spread in velocities is do in part to the thin brass and inconsiant hold on the bullets in the Hornet. Wtih the groups you are shooting you should have no trouble taking groundhogs to the max range of the little Hornet though. Real good little gun as long as you keep it under 300 yrds.

[cjclemens]

I've never pushed my Hornet much past 100.  200 doesnt seem unreasonable on smaller varmits like groundhogs.  I dont think I would try any longer shots than that, especially on larger game like coyotes.  At lower velocites, you start to get into terminal performance and penetration issues, even if accuracy holds.  If you crimp the neck lightly, the hold on the bullet should be uniform enough to prevent variation.  Thin brass is what it is - nothing you can do about it, but I dont think it would cause too much variation in velocity either.  Measuring error is more likely.  Slight error is common and unavoidable.  On such a small cartridge with only 13 grains of powder in it, .1 or even .05 grains of variance in load can cause noticable spikes in pressure and velocity.  Compared to a larger cartrige, that .1 grains represents a much smaller %error in the overall load - making it insignificant.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  My Browning Hornet is one of my favorite varmit rigs..it gets lots of use on gr. squirrel, p.dogs, etc..Killed a couple coyotes with it...during the years I shot lots of groundhogs, I used it quite a bit..It seemed ideal for settled country...one evening I spotted a huge chuck feeding in a hay field..I got a dead rest over a round bale and shot this fellow in the chest....I later paced it at 175 yards...he dropped like a ton of bricks...I looked around for other chucks that might have been out of sight, but sat up or moved at the shot..nothing..when I looked back at the chuck I shot, he got up and made a short dash to his hole...it looked like a good lung shot by the color of the blood...from that day on, I only used the Hornet up to about 125 yards..